Gardner Gives Michigan Offense Life in Loss

Kyle Bogenschutz

10/05/2014

Michigan senior quarterback Devin Gardner was once again the starter in Saturday’s loss at Rutgers. Despite the defeat, Gardner looked like a quarterback ready to reclaim his job, nearly guiding a game winning drive in the fourth quarter.

According to Funchess, the offense just settled in with Gardner under center and the results prove it.

“Getting comfortable,” Funchess said. “The line got comfortable and he got comfortable. The backs were running good and it just opened up the pass game.”

With one final chance at a game winning drive with 6:34 remaining at their own 14, Gardner started strong completing a 12-yard pass to Khalid Hill in the flat, followed by a 17-yard target to Funchess in between defenders.

On third and eight at the Rutgers 38, Gardner completed his biggest pass of the day to keep the drive away -- at least he thought so.

Gardner rolled to his right and found Amara Darboh on an out route right at the first down markers, reeling the ball in and turning up field before hitting the ground, the ball coming loose at the last second.

The play was ruled an incompletion on the field and backed up via replay and a challenge by Michigan.

Instead of going for it on fourth and eight, Michigan decided to attempt a 56-yard field goal to take the lead, and possibly, the game. Gardner says he had the utmost confidence Wile could make the kick.

“Without a doubt,” Gardner said. “We’re a team. Matt Wile, he believed he could make it and we believed he could make it.

“And it looked like it was going to be good, they made a play, you know, they have division one athletes as well. They jumped; he got really high and blocked the kick. It happens.”